Sam Smith

I can't believe there's no topic Ukmix... go to the next dark corner available and have a moment of shame with textbook sis katy!

Samuel Frederick "Sam" Smith (born 19 May 1992) is a British singer-songwriter. He rose to fame in October 2012 when he was featured on Disclosure's breakthrough single "Latch", which peaked at number eleven on the UK chart. His subsequent feature—on Naughty Boy's "La La La"—earned him his first number-one single on the chart in May 2013.In December 2013, Smith was nominated for the 2014 BRIT Critics' Choice Award and the BBC's Sound of 2014 poll; both of which he went on to win. He released his debut studio album, In the Lonely Hour, on 26 May 2014 via Capitol Records. The lead single, "Lay Me Down", was released prior to "La La La". The second single, "Money on My Mind", was released on 16 February.

The video of him singing Whitney's "How Will I Know" doing the rounds at the moment is absolutely horrendous, he totally sucks the life out of the song, I had to listen to Whitney's version again straight after to remind myself how much energy that track has. He always sings like he's crying which is really draining to listen to.

From the Jingle Ball review a few nights ago (post-Grammy nominations):

In a lot of ways, Sam Smith, with his six Grammy nominations earlier that day, felt like the night's headliner, taking the stage dressed in all black and conjuring an emotional response throughout the venue with opening song "Nirvana."

"Last time I was in this room I was watching the Grammys, I was sitting in the way way back, and today I found out I was nominated for six Grammys," he said with a charming smile before announcing his guitarist Ben's birthday and starting into "I'm Not The Only One." He followed with Disclosure's "Latch," calling it the "song that changed my life."

Closing with "Stay With Me," he told the crowd, "Right now I need to see every single person in this room sing this as loud as they can." Though sing-alongs had been attempted a few times in the night, this by far was the most successful, creating a truly impactful communal concert experiences with the track's chorus radiating through the audience.

Sam Smith’s big year just got bigger: MTV named the singer 2014’s best artist.

Smith became a household name in March, when the Englishman was the musical guest on Saturday Night Live and impressed America with his soulful singing. Since then, his hit “Stay With Me” has topped the Billboard Hot 100 and he’s nabbed six Grammy nominations.

MTV also released its best songs of 2014, a list topped by Iggy Azalea’s “Fancy.” Head over to MTV to see which other artists, songs, and movies nabbed 2014 Best Of titles.

Sam's just a great guy! I'll be honest in saying I was slightly disappointed in his album as a whole (though there are some songs I love), but I do think he's great and so very likeable.

His appearance on RTL Late Night here was very cool... he was genuinely touched when he saw the footage they played of a deaf girl who heard music for the first time, and it was his song. (Well, a cover by a different act, but still).

Sam Smith is heading to Australia during the holidays to avoid family squabbles lol:

Sam Smith heading to Australia to avoid his annual festive family arguments

Dec 22, 2014 22:43By Ashleigh Rainbird

Tis the season to be jolly? Maybe but Sam Smith is fed up with the tearful, festive family rows.

So this year he will have his turkey and chipolatas, and say: “Stuff this – I’m sprout of here.”

The 22-year-old singer, who has had a hectic year selling a million copies of his album In The Lonely Hour both here and in the US, is off to Australia to dodge the annual squabbles with his parents and sisters.

He tells us: “I have argued with my family every New Year’s Eve for 10 years.

“So I’m going to travel to the other side of the world and strap myself to a tree so I can’t argue with anyone.

"It’s not huge arguments, but when all my family drink a bit and you’ve been together for 10 days over Christmas, at the end you all start arguing. It’s just like any family.”

Here! Here!

Sam, who is up for six Grammy awards, is incredibly close to parents Katie and Frederick. And he reveals that a heartwarming song he wrote about their divorce reduced the whole family to tears.

He says: “It’s a song about my mum and dad splitting up. I played it to all my family and they have been in tears every time they listen to it.

“My parents split up when I was 18. I had the most amazing experience of divorce. They are still best friends, it wasn’t really sad.

“The whole concept through the time they split up was, ‘If you are happy, I am happy’.

“We are happier now they are apart because they are happier, whereas before they weren’t in love with each other.”

The family gave Sam their blessing to use the sensitive subject matter in his work.

He says: “The song is about how far we have come. It is quite an intense song, so I had to ring them up and ask them if it was OK to play it to my management. It is very personal.

“They were amazing about it. It’s a song I can’t wait for people to hear. I really think a lot of people are going to relate to it.”

Sam’s hoping the new track will make it to his second album, which, sadly, he knows will not be released next year as he is touring until September.

Given the track about his parents, he quips: “It’s more depressing than the first record.”

In that case, we will just want to play it again and again and again, Sam.